The progressive aspect: håller på att
English uses "-ing" verbs to show an action is happening right now ("I am working"). While Swedish usually just uses the simple present tense, you can use håller på att followed by an infinitive verb to emphasize that someone is currently in the middle of doing something.
| I am ironing the laundry. | Jag håller på att stryka tvätten. |
| We are folding the clothes. | Vi håller på att vika kläderna. |
Adding adverbs
Adverbs like bara (just) are placed directly after the conjugated verb håller. This is common when asking someone to wait while you finish a task.
| I'll be right there! I am just ironing a shirt. | Jag kommer strax! Jag håller bara på att stryka en skjorta. |
Noises and interruptions
Håller på att is the perfect structure for complaining about ongoing, repetitive noises—like drilling (borra) or banging (banka)—especially when you are trying to focus (fokusera) or concentrate (koncentrera sig).
Note that koncentrera is a reflexive verb, so it must be paired with the correct reflexive pronoun, such as mig (myself) for jag.
| The neighbor is drilling and I cannot concentrate. | Grannen håller på att borra och jag kan inte koncentrera mig. |
| I am writing the letter, but I cannot focus. | Jag håller på att skriva brevet, men jag kan inte fokusera. |
| That man is banging on the door, and I am getting angry! | Den där mannen håller på att banka på dörren, och jag blir arg! |
Asking questions
To ask if someone is in the middle of a task, follow the standard rule for Swedish questions and invert the subject and verb.
| Are you folding the laundry? I need to do laundry soon. | Håller du på att vika tvätten? Jag behöver tvätta snart. |
| Are you packing the suitcase? | Håller du på att packa resväskan? |